RSA conference on social impact of the web

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) is hosting a conference on “How can new internet technology empower us to interact with each other in novel ways”. Sounds interesting, not least because it’s free. You can register here.

How can new internet technology empower us to interact with each other in novel ways?This conference will address this question by focusing on the political culture and norms that the internet has been instrumental in fostering, both in relation to centralised politics and more diffuse social and civic networks.It will also look at the psychology of the internet â€“ as we create virtual fully living worlds, lines may be crossed between what is real and unreal in our lives.Virtual environments let people create their own digital identity with their own unique psychology. When online do we treat people differently, does the technology that we are using change how we would behave in the real world? If people create their own representation what does it say about them and what are the wider implications, social and political.Speakers:Professor Cass Sunstein, Karl N. Llewellyn Dist. Service Prof. of Jurisprudence, Law School, Dept. of Political Science and the College, University of ChicagoTom Steinberg, Founder and Director, mySociety and former policty analystAndrew Chadwick, Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Royal Holloway, University of LondonWilliam Davies, Goldsmiths, University of LondonLocation: RSA, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZDate: 25 May 2007Time: 10.30am-4.00pm